Fans to be warned of blocked view

The view from Eden Park seats K21 and K22 in section 634. Photo / Supplied

Rugby authorities have apologised for seats at Eden Park with an obstructed view of the field - and promised to mark tickets with a warning in future.

It comes after complaints from spectators that their view from seats in the new South Stand was blocked by a glass panel and safety railing.

One of them, Aucklander Wayne Annan, bought two tickets costing $160 each to the All Blacks versus Wallabies Bledisloe Cup match the Saturday before last.

Mr Annan thought he had paid top dollar for top seats, but found they were anything but, he told the Herald last week.

"We watched the game around the bars and ducked our heads in and out to get a view."

Mr Annan called on organisers to either cut the price of tickets for affected seats or mark them with a warning that the view of the field would be obstructed.

Organisers have since been in touch with Mr Annan, offering an apology, and said tickets for those seats would be clearly marked in future.

"They say they have physically checked the seats in section 634 in seats K21 [and] 22 and agree that the handrail restricts the view, as shown in the photo," Mr Annan said.

The Auckland Rugby Union, which works alongside TicketMaster, has sent a letter of apology to Mr Annan and offered him two free tickets to a future rugby game at Eden Park - not a World Cup match, however.

Auckland Rugby spokesman James Rigby last night confirmed that organisers had received complaints from fans seated on the South Stand about the blocked view.

It was the first time there had been complaints as the Bledisloe match was the first time the stadium had been full.

Mr Rigby said organisers were in the process of looking at placing a "restricted views" warning on tickets for future games.

There would also be discussion about whether tickets to those seats should be at a discounted price, he said.

A spokeswoman for the Eden Park Trust said responsibility for pricing tickets lay with whoever would be hiring the park.